Sushruta Samhita –

The Ancient Surgical Treatise

Introduction:

The Sushruta Samhita is the earliest known authoritative treatise on Ayurveda written by Sushruta, to whom his father Vishwamitra gave birth. He was a disciple of the sage Divodasa Dhanwantari, king of Kashi and god of medicine. This proves to be the oldest, about 3000 years ago, and most ancient document on surgery, not only in India but any part of the world. The available version today is a redacted edition by Nagarjuna, which includes the supplement Uttara Tantra.

Historical Significance

  • Authorship: Sushruta (Disciple of Divodasa Dhanwantari)
  • Time Period: ~1000 BCE (Redacted version: 400–500 CE by Nagarjuna)
  • Field of Study: Ayurveda, with a special emphasis on Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
  • Influence: Recognized as the foundation of surgical sciences in ancient and modern medicine.

Historical Significance

Six Broad Divisions of Text:


1. Sutra Sthana – Credited to the basic tenets on surgery and medicine.


2. Nidana Sthana – Disease diagnosis. 


3. Sarira Sthana – Anatomy or embryology of man.


4. Chikitsa Sthana – Therapeutics or treatments.


5. Kalpa Sthana – Toxicology and antidotes.


6. Uttara Sthana: Special therapies and other topics of addition.

Contributions of Sushruta

1. Human Dissection & Anatomy
  • First known medical practitioner to introduce cadaver dissection in class.
  • Almost complete descriptions in the human body’s skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels and tissues.
  • Described eight types of surgical techniques that still apply to the present time.
  • First brought in experimental surgery for student training- adopted only after the 17th century in the West.


  • Included pre-operative, operative and post-operative care for his systematic approach to surgery. 

  • Developed 101 blunt and 20 sharp surgical instruments.

  • Introduced tubular instruments, forerunners of modern endoscopic tools.

  • Specialized surgery for handling weapon-inflicted injuries.
  • Management of embedded foreign bodies and battlefield injuries.
  • Pioneer of rhinoplasty (nose reconstruction), otoplasty (ear repair), and oroplasty (lip surgery).
  • The method of rhinoplasty he used was later adopted by western surgeons into the “Indian Method” in the 18th century.
  • Anorectal surgery (piles & fistula treatment) 
Obstetrical surgery, including Caesarean sections Ophthalmic surgery (cataract removal) 
Treatment for fractures, urinary stones, and abdominal injuries
  • Detailed study of bodily elements (dosa, dhatu, ojas, mala) in normal and abnormal conditions.
  • Six stages of evolvement to classify diseases. 
Healthcare preventive measures of health and longevity.

Commentaries & Translations

  • Dalhana (12th century AD): the only complete commentary ever written and still extant today available in ancient times.
  • Gayadasa (10th century AD): partial commentary on Nidana Sthana.
  • Chakrapanidatta (11th century AD): commentary on Sutra Sthana (incomplete).

Translations into Other Languages

  • Arabic (8th century AD): Translated by Ibn Abila Sibal as Kitab Sashool-e-Hind.
  • Latin (1844): translated by F. Hesslar.
  • German (1846): translated by J.A. Vullars.
  • English (1883–2000): translated by U.C. Dutta, A. Chattopadhyaya, F.R. Hoernle, Kunjalal Bhishagratna, G.D. Singhal, and P.V. Sharma.

Inheritors of the Sushruta Samhita

  • The oldest known surgical text has worldwide relevance.
  • The basis of reconstructive plastic surgery.
  • An unequivocal record of India’s ancient scientific grandeur.

More to Explore:

🔹 Sushruta Samhita Full Text

🔹 Read the Translations

🔹 Learn About Ayurveda